The convenience of online shopping cannot be beat. You can get anything from groceries to home decor to sports memorabilia shipped right to your door. But how do you know that you’re getting what you pay for?
The convenience of online shopping has opened doors for scam artists to sell inferior products and fraud consumers. Some online storefronts are stocked by people buying items in bulk for cheap and selling them at a huge markup. Others may be selling stolen or counterfeit items. It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a scam item and the real item. Due to laws, regulations, and potential scams, there are a few things we recommend not buying online.
Here are 5 things you should not buy online
A quick disclaimer—it is usually okay to make purchases from trusted brands and retailers online—just make sure that you’re buying directly from them and not a reseller. When you’re considering making a purchase from stores you’ve never heard of, it’s important to pay attention and do your research. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Vitamins and supplements
Vitamins and supplements are not subject to U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. The FDA doesn’t need to approve them before they’re sold to the public either online or in person. Essentially, the supplement market is unregulated as there’s no oversight to make sure that what is going into those vitamins and supplements is what’s stated on the label.
Going to a brick and mortar store will let you talk to a team of sales people that know the products they’re selling and what’s in them.
Cosmetics and sunscreen
When it comes to your skin, it’s important to know what’s going on it. Buying makeup, skincare, and sunscreen online can be a gamble. With the rise of counterfeits and resellers, it can be hard to know what ingredients are in the items you’re buying or where it came from. While the FDA does require that cosmetics be safe for use and properly labelled, they aren’t checking these items before they’re put onto the market. Without an accurate ingredients label, there’s no telling whether something has been added that could irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction. And unknowingly purchasing used cosmetics or skincare products could spread harmful bacteria.
An in-person sales team can help you understand what goes into the product and help you navigate any potential allergies. Additionally, it’s much easier to get your perfect shade in person!
Fine jewelry
The quality of jewelry is hard to discern over the internet. Even if the product lists the gemstone quality and the precious metal content, there’s no real way to verify it. With the rise of online scams, even the product photos could be fake. Some scammers use photos of similar, high-end photos to sell inferior products at a higher price.
When spending big on jewelry, you’ll want to verify the quality of an item in person.
Pets
Although you can purchase a pet online, you probably shouldn’t. According to the Better Business Bureau, at least 80% of pet ads online are scams. Scammers use photos of adorable animals to lure in potential victims.
Additionally, there’s no telling an animal’s personality or temperament through an ad online. It’s best to meet a pet in person before you introduce it into your home. Check out Yakima Humane Society for pets available for adoption. They’ll help match you to a pet that best fits your lifestyle, needs, and personality.
Things you can’t return
Some things you need to try before you buy. From big purchases like cars or boats to home improvement items such as paint or flooring, some things you want to select for yourself. Even items like pillows should be tested out.
Before you purchase something online, double check the return policy. Return policies are different for every retailer. Some places don’t even offer returns. Make sure you understand the return policy.
Keep your security in mind
Buying online can save you a lot of time. However, if your personal information gets stolen that requires a lot of time and effort to fix. When you’re shopping online, keep these security rules in mind to make sure your purchase is protected.
- Stay secure: Don’t trust unfamiliar websites with your debit/credit card information. Do your research or use a third-party software (such as Paypal) to make secure transactions. Check to make sure the website starts with https: and a padlock symbol in the address bar. That indicates the site encrypts your data, making it harder for a hacker to steal your information.
- Be aware of public computers: Ideally you’d only buy on your private device on your private Wi-Fi, but that doesn’t always happen. If you’re on a public computer, be sure to delete all your payment information from the computer. DO NOT save log ins, passwords, or credit/debit card details.
- Don’t give out any more information than necessary. Simple purchases require: your name, address, credit card information, and maybe your phone number. Any website that asks for anything else could be a scam.
- Check your credit card statements regularly. Look for any unauthorized purchases or anything that doesn’t seem right to make sure you’re the only one using your credit card.
- Don’t click links from people or stores you don’t recognize. This goes for texts or emails. If you don’t know and trust the person texting or emailing you, don’t click any links.
By following these simple tips, you can be confident your online purchases will be authentic and safe. Happy shopping!
